Anthony Labson

Friday, February 16, 2018

Black Panther is
arguably the most anticipated film starring a Marvel comic character, next to Deadpool 2 and Avenger: Infinity Wars. Chadwick Boseman returns after thrilling
audiences with his performance as the new king of Wakanda, T’Challa, in Captain America: Civil War. This time,
he’s joined with an all star cast in Michael B. Jordan, Angela Bassett, Forrest
Whitaker, and Martin Freeman. Fans will not be disappointed with this two-and-a-half-hour
film that sets the bar high for films in 2018. It’s a film that goes far beyond
the big screen and has decades of history building up to this moment.

The Black Panther has been around since his arrival in an
issue of The Fantastic Four back in
1966. The character has also made appearances in several television cartoons,
video games and now films. T’Challa has always remained constant in the Marvel
universe for several reasons other than a fancy cat suit. The Black Panther is
armed with unlimited wealth, dangerous fighting techniques, and superior
technology. His sole mission, the protection of his country Wakanda and to keep
its secrets hidden from the outside world.

The film stays true to these principles; starting off a week
after the events of Captain America:
Civil War. In that short amount of time, T’Challa is just realizing his potential
as king and as the new black panther. While T’Challa does what he can, other
players are working behind the scenes to dethrone the new king for personal
reasons. Michael B. Jordan provides a methodical, vicious antagonist for Boseman
by portraying someone with deep scars connected to Wakanda. Jordan’s
performance is spot on and the chemistry between the two delivers for one hell
of a showdown in the film.

Some of the best moments of the film are when you get to see
certain parts of Wakanda and the rituals that take place. Some scenes are so beautiful,
it almost breaks your heart because you have to remember that’s not a real
place. The film is dragged out in some areas, but those are short lived, and
the action sequences are terrific. The gadgets are somewhat farfetched, but the
film does find a way of making it work. There are some political views
expressed in the film that may turn off people who just want to be entertained,
but I’m not going there.

Black Panther is a
fun ride with a well written story that sets up Marvel for arguably their
biggest release, Avenger: Infinity Wars. There’s
two post film scenes; one in the middle and the other one is at the end. I give
this film a nine out of ten only because of the dragging scenes and farfetched
gadgets, but this film is virtually perfect. I’m not saying that Deadpool and
Avengers won’t beat it, but they have a high bar to reach. Congratulations to
all involved on bringing this highly anticipated character to life and I will be
seeing this movie again as soon as possible.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

It’s over fellow Whovians. Peter Capaldi’s reign as the 12th
doctor has come to an end and the era of Jodie Whittaker is ready to debut in
2018. Peter Capaldi has passed on the torch years after his debut with the
episode Deep Breath, leaving in
spectacular fashion. When Peter Capaldi was selected to be the new doctor, fans
were divided, but now they can’t seem to imagine what the series will be like
without him. Peter Capaldi brought a unique style to the famous British icon
that Whovians connected with immediately. Twice
Upon a Time was truly a bittersweet goodbye that was a pleasure to see in
theaters.

I didn’t see the Christmas Special until I saw in at the Regal
near me, so you can only imagine how hard it was to avoid spoilers. Peter
Capaldi was chosen to fill the shoes of his predecessor, Matt Smith, which left
fans mixed for several reasons. The first reason is the age difference; the
past three doctors have been young, attractive, and portrayed witty humor. The
kind of person you wouldn’t mind having a beer with and proud to call your best
friend. Peter Capaldi’s doctor was more serious and gave off more a serious but
compassionate protector.

Just like this Doctor, the stories for Peter Capaldi came
off darker than any other seasons, but was also groundbreaking that would pave
the way for Jodie Whittaker. Groundbreaking in the name of Michelle Gomez who
would take up the mantel of the doctor’s worst enemy, The Master. Many fans didn’t
understand how come the show decided to change the gender of The Master, but
ultimately, she was accepted by a many Whovians. As Peter Capaldi’s time was
coming, many people wondered if it was possible that The Doctor would change gender,
then the obvious happened. Some see it as a fantastic opportunity, others see
it as a way of pushing a political agenda, and other simply just don’t want a
female doctor.

So how did she look in the Christmas Special and did it do
Peter Capaldi Justice? Twice Upon a Time
introduced a unique story that involved the first doctor, once played by the
famous William Hartnell and now played by David Bradley (Game of Thrones). Bradley was great both as the character and
looking like the first doctor. The story itself was kind of a let down because
I was expecting some grand send off by fighting an enemy one last time, but it
didn’t turn out that way. The only time that I couldn’t take my eyes off the
screen was when it was time to regenerate and hear Peter’s last words.

It was poetic, heartbreaking, and enough to make you wish
that this wasn’t the end. The Doctor is known for not liking the end because
you have to say goodbye and this time, I understand. When Jodie Whittaker
appeared, some still showed signs of criticism, but a majority were willing to
give it a try. The cliffhanger definitely teased a new Tardis and I love her
look because it almost feels similar to Tom Baker, so I’m looking forward to
seeing her debut in 2018. To those of you who say you’ll never watch Doctor Who again after Peter Capaldi, take
his advice and be kind.

Sunday, December 3, 2017

The Punisheris
arguably Marvel’s darkest, yet most attractive anti-hero. For those of you that
don’t know, The Punisher is a comic
based around Frank Castle. The ex-marine turned vigilante following the massacre
of his family that immediately caught the interest of Marvel readers. After appearing
in an issue of The Amazing Spider-Man
back in 1974, fans were instantly draw to the brutal world of the man who would
bring a one-man war to the criminal world. A war where he takes no prisoners
and the only mercy he gives is a quick death.

Frank Castle’s rise to popularity has been slow considering
the numerous failed attempts to bring him into the public eye. The first
attempt was in 1989 with a film starring action star Dolph Lundgren that failed
miserably both critically and financially. The second time would be in 2004 staring
Thomas Jane, and it was more acceptable to fans, but still lacking financial
success. The final blow came in 2008 with Punisher:
War Zone, starring Ray Stevenson, and that’s when Marvel threw in the towel
for good reason.

Many thought they had seen the last of a live action
punisher until the success of Daredevil, another
anti-hero of Marvel that was produced into a series by Netflix. When it was time for season two, many
fans rejoiced when they heard that Frank Castle would take part and he was being
played by Jon Bernthal. Fans widely accepted the new punisher with open arms and
a spin-off staring Bernthal was inevitable. The question is, did the Netflix
series succeed where three films failed? The answer is a bloody, broken yes!

The Punisher takes
off sometime after the season two events of Daredevil
and Frank Castle has gone into hiding after getting justice for his family. Much
like any soldier coming home, Frank is having a hard time adjusting to a quiet
civilian lifestyle. Frank soon finds that the war he left behind didn’t just
come back to haunt him, but also shed more light about the massacre of his
family. With the help of a friend, Frank once again finds he must fight this
war that never ended if he wants to put it behind him and put certain dreams to
rest. It’s arguably Netflix’s bloodiest show that punisher fans would expect
from their favorite anti-hero.

The show starts off with a bang but then slowly drags in a
few episodes as it heads towards the finale. Once you hit two thirds of the
way, the action really picks up and that’s when you want to start the binge
watching. Jon Bernthal delivered once again, by bringing the methodical, brutal
savagery of Frank Castle. What I love the most about the series is that it took
the time to show the mental torment that Frank experiences as he attempts to find
a reason to live. Fans will not be disappointed by this show, but they might be
bored midway through.

There are several antagonists in this series that make it a
mess for a few episodes, but the main antagonist is Billy Russo, played by Ben
Barnes. Billy is someone who has a history with Frank Castle. If fans don’t
recognize who Billy is, then I promise you that you will at the finale when you
see the Easter egg. There’s also an appearance by fan favorite out of Daredevil, Deborah Ann Woll, who plays
Karen, a former assistant turned reporter. The show also expresses certain political
issues such as gun control and the treatment of soldiers returning home from
war.

There was a lot riding on this show and fans were waiting
patiently to see this in October, but because of the massacre that occurred in Las
Vegas, it was pushed back a month. It’s been a long history of failures for this
Marvel character; almost as horrible as the Fantastic Four franchise owned by
Fox. Thanks to Netflix and great story telling, Frank Castle has gotten the
treatment he deserves and fans can’t be more grateful. It’s a long but brutal,
dark and deep story that grabs your attention and for that I give this series nine
out of ten stars. The Punisher is a
must see for anyone who is a fan of the character or Marvel in general, because
this series does Frank Castle justice.

Friday, November 17, 2017

Warner Bros. and DC Comics have once again managed to produce
a film that fans love and critics love to hate. Justice League has finally come after the success of its
predecessor, Wonder Woman, and it
delivers a punch, but not as powerful. Some saw the debut of the amazon as the
turning point for their cinematic universe, but I’m afraid the league still has
a few kinks to work out. This film was not as good as Wonder Woman, but I will say this film was a vast improvement from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Justice League is a fun, action packed
film that fans of DC comics will enjoy and seems to be a step in the right
direction.

The movie is mostly centered around Batman, but the focus of
the film was on Superman and how the world fell into chaos after his death. So,
instead of an invincible alien, Batman and Wonder Woman decide to recruit
Flash, Cyborg, and Aquaman to fight an incoming threat. A threat with unmatched
power that convinces Batman to take an unexpected risk to bring back Superman
and solidify the league. It’s a mission that brings everyone together and creates
a powerful, but chaotic bond which happens rather quickly. In the end, there
was laughter and applause at the end of the film.

Justice League is probably the most comedic film DC has
produced, but still manages to keep its dark tone in certain scenes. The best
comedy came in the form of Ezra Miller, who plays the Flash, and arguably
steals the show. Seeing Flash run and go through the speed force is one of the
coolest moments in the film. Ezra brings a witty and almost nerdish feel to the
team that entertains the audience every time he’s on screen. Another debut is
Jason Momoa as Aquaman and Ray Fisher as Cyborg.

I loved the warrior look of Jason Momoa and he his
performance was great, but Ray Fisher’s performance is blocked by bad CGI that
could’ve been done better in my opinion. The other victim of bad CGI was the
main villain, Steppenwolf. He was an ok choice to be the main antagonist, but I’m
sure DC fans would’ve rather it had been Darkseid, a popular DC villain
hellbent on destroying Superman and Earth. My guess is that DC is saving him
for hopefully another film. It’s a good action movie that all about what’s
happening, but lacks the support beams that explains why it’s happening.

The story overall was decent, but it could’ve been way
better if it was longer. For a story that involves so many iconic heroes, you
don’t see much of their lives outside of their uniforms. There’s little time to
know the characters or see their homes like Atlantis or Central City. I’m
guessing that DC will probably come out with an extended cut on Blu-ray like
they did with Suicide Squad and Dawn of Justice. This has always been
the handicap with films from DC and why they are trailing behind their
competition, Marvel Studios.

DC and Warner Bros. make films with the expectation of the
audience to already know the characters and their backgrounds. That’s an
alright tactic for the fans, but that creates problems for the general audience
who may not have in depth knowledge of each character. If they don’t start
giving characters proper time to connect with the audience, then critics will
keep bashing their movies every time.

Warner Bros. and DC have had a bad run as of late with their
films when Zack Snyder was chosen to direct Superman in Man of Steel. That started this issue of dividing fans and critics as
the films kept rolling out. Things hit their lowest when the sequel, Dawn of Justice, came out and began to
cast doubt on whether to pull the plug or not. Then there was another bomb with
Suicide Squad, but then the princess
of the amazons came and the rest is history. Luckily DC’s cinematic universe
survived long enough to get to this point, but it’s not for lack of unfortunate
events that began to worry DC Comics and its fans.

Rumors started to speculate on whether Ben Affleck was
leaving Batman behind due to internal struggles with DC. So far, he’s still onboard
with the upcoming solo film The Batman,
but things could change. The biggest hit was the announcement that Zack Snyder
was leaving production early due to a death in the family. Joss Whedon would
take over the rest of way; this lead to various reshoots and cuts that began to
raise eyebrows. The change in directors midway turned out to be a blessing
because Whedon mixed Snyder’s direction with a bit of what Whedon did with
Marvel to bring lighter tones to the film.

My heart wants to give this film a perfect ten as a fan of
superheroes, but it gets a seven from a neutral point of view. Justice League could be a step in the
right direction if it becomes a success financially, but fans are skeptical
with good reason. It’s worth your time if you like superheroes, a fan of action
movies and know a little about each character. If you only know who the
characters are and not their backgrounds, then you’re going to be lost quick. Hoping
for the best; because judging from the two post credits, there’s good things on
the horizon if Justice League is
successful.

Sunday, November 5, 2017

When it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor is probably my least favorable character. The past two films have been visually appealing, but lacking in some areas that keeps this hero dragging next to Iron Man and Captain America. That isn’t the case with the third film in this franchise, Thor: Ragnarok. This film took a more drastic turn in order to keep up with other Marvel characters with director Taika Waititi making this a more comedic action film. All of Thor’s previous movies have been action mixed with drama, and some believe that’s what’s been dragging the god of thunder down.

Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, has always seemed like a lost character who was always outshined his arch nemesis, Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston. Now things have come full circle as the legendary tale of Ragnarok has arrived. In Norse mythology, Ragnarok is basically the Vikings vision of Armageddon that includes a Midgard serpent that devours the world. Then a fire giant named Surtur will destroy Asgard, the home of the Viking gods. In the film, Ragnarok mostly focuses on the fall of Asgard and the death of the gods.

As the Ragnarok on the rise, Thor must realize his place amongst his people and lead them before the Asgard burns to the ground. Things don’t get any easier for Thor when he realizes a terrible family secret that brings the goddess of death, Hela, at his door. After proving to be no match for her, Thor is exiled to another world and must find his way back before it’s too late. Cate Blanchett, who plays Hela, did an excellent job portraying one of the most dangerous villains in the Marvel Universe. Taika Waititi did her justice by portraying the dark character, but showing a decent backstory to explain her motives.

The film was funny in some areas and the action made the two hours fly, but that’s where one problem reveals itself. Events were happening so fast that it was hard to digest what had just happened with certain characters. The other problem I had with the film was Grandmaster, leader of Sakaar and played by Jeff Goldblum. Sakaar is a savage planet that has significance to Hulk, but that’s a story for another time. The Grandmaster is more annoying than comedic, and could’ve done better if he appeared more serious instead of acting like the creepy uncle.

Thor has more character development in this film than any film before and it’s appropriate considering the stakes. The only problem is some fans of the god of thunder may have a problem with how this series concludes. I was shocked by certain events that took place and I had to wait till after the movie was done to finally digest what happened. Overall, I’m happy with the direction that the film took with the character and this is probably my favorite Thor film out of the three.

I can’t guarantee that some fans of Thor will feel the same because I can guarantee that Thor will never be the same after this film. Making this a film a comedy was probably the best thing that Taika Waititi could’ve done for the franchise and the audience I was with were entertained. This film would’ve been perfect if it was just a little bit longer to give the audience time to digest the events and Grandmaster was redesigned to look more like a world conqueror. This film gets an eight out of ten and there is a mid-credit scene and a post credit scene after the film. Thor will return for the highly anticipated Avengers: Infinity Wars and it’ll be interesting to see how everyone reacts to the god of thunder.

Friday, September 22, 2017

Kingsman: The Secret
Service went from being an unknown film to a global phenomenon after its
release back in 2014. The film would be a big break for star Taron Egerton who
plays the main character of the film, Eggsy, and the femme fatale, Sofia
Boutella. The overall success of the film came from the fantastic story-telling
and star power of actors such as Samuel Jackson, Michael Caine and Colin Firth.
The film almost resembled the very elements that made the old Bond films such a
success in its day. Spies that must save the world by using out of this world
gadgets to survive unique death traps and get the girl in the end.

Kingsman: The Golden
Circle delivers the same punch that made the first film a success, but with
a special twist. This film takes off sometime after the events of the last
film; the Kingsman have regrown after the events of Valentine and the loss of
certain Kingsman. Eggsy has moved up and become one of the best agents in the
service, but his personal life is beginning to suffer. It only gets worse when an
attack cripples the Kingsman and events lead them to find allies from across
the seas. It’s an action-packed story full of new gadgets and action sequences
that make this two and a half hour film feel shorter.

The story is nothing new; there’s an outlandish plot that
threatens the lives of millions and Eggsy is now on a mission to save them all
and get the girl. Taron Egerton performed as well as expected by being both
comedian and action star. Colin Firth makes a surprising return as Eggsy’s
father figure and mentor, Harry. Colin comes off almost like an English Nick
Fury, but without the loud voice and the harsh leadership. The best addition to
the Kingsman franchise is the main antagonist, played by Hollywood icon,
Julianne Moore.

While it first comes off as corny, she immediately turns
into the pharmacist from hell with a sadistic plot and disturbing sense of nostalgia.
There are other additions such as Jeff Bridges and Channing Tatum; their parts
were short, but sweet. Halle Berry makes a surprise entrance in the film as her
organization’s lead analyst and technical support. There’s other surprises in
store for the audience and we’ll leave it at that. Kingsman: The Golden Circle is the perfect fall movie that’s
guaranteed to end the month with a profitable outcome.

This film gets a nine out of 10, because this film gives
fans of the original everything they loved about the first one. Julianne Moore
was a fantastic villain and the action is a fast-paced thriller that makes the
film feel shorter. However, I don’t think there needed to be so many high-priced
actors in roles that could’ve been done by others, but it could be used to make
a spinoff or use for another sequel. Plus, there were some moments in the film
that felt dragged out and could’ve been cut from the final print. Kingsman: The Golden Circle is a spectacular
film that lives up to what fans love about the first film and I can’t wait
until the next film.

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Anthony Labson found his passion in writing at an early age from reading fantasy and science fiction novels. Finding an escape from the outside world by creating one of his own became his greatest gift. He believes that the ability to create a story out of nothing isn't just a gift, but a miracle and, he believes it was given to him. In a time where everything is remade or rebooted, he also believes creativity is at an all-time low, and now is the time to step up to bring creativity back to the world that's just sticking to used up ideas.

Anthony Labson began his writing career attending Nova Southeastern University with The Knight Newspaper as a freelance film critic and being published in the N.S.U. magazine Digressions. After graduating in 2008, he frequently self-published poetry and prose on networks to gain momentum from readers. In December of 2011 he realized that he had more to offer; so here he is, taking the next step to being a recognized author. He is currently self-publishing his works hoping to gain attention from readers, agents, and publishers to become a successful writer.

He firmly believes that the reboots and the remakes are a painful step backwards that's killing dreamers everywhere. The people want to see something fresh and new, not new versions of old ideas. The future is for those who dare to be innovative, no matter how out of the norm it is. If you want something new and something fresh, then please give one of his books a chance. It's time to bring creativity back in a big way, and Anthony Labson wants to be the one who contributes to that dream. Enjoy and until the next is written.

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WordPress @ anthonylabsonblog.wordpress.com Facebook @ www.facebook.com/AnthonyLabson Twitter at @A_Labson Blogger @ mranthonylabson.blogspot.com. For business purposes then he can be reached @ anthonylabson@gmail.com.